How to Plan Your CEUs, Certifications & Clinical Goals for 2026 (Without Burning Out)

As 2025 winds down, many of us are starting to think about how we want to grow next year - what continuing education courses we’ll need, which clinical skills to build, and how to keep learning in ways that actually support our lives and our clients.

If you’re feeling a little scattered or unsure where to start, you’re not alone. But the good news is, you don’t need a 20-step planning system or a complicated checklist. In fact, in my latest podcast episode, I walk you through a simple, focused process to help you reflect on the past year and set professional goals that are clear, realistic, and aligned with your actual interests and needs.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what I covered:

Step 1: Reflect on 2025

Before you plan ahead, take five minutes to look back. Ask yourself:

• What continuing education courses or trainings helped your clients most this year?

• What learning experiences felt energizing vs. draining?

• Where do you want to grow next, based on real clinical experience?

These answers will help you avoid wasting time or money on things that don’t move you forward.

Step 2: Choose Your 2026 Focus Areas

In the episode, I suggest focusing on four core areas:

1. Licensure & CEUs

Make sure you’re on track with your state board requirements. If you’re looking for CEUs that are affordable, flexible, and actually enjoyable - check out my NBCC-approved Podcourses. They’re one-hour audio CEUs designed to be listened to on a walk, commute, or wherever you are.

2. Certifications

Is 2026 the year you go deeper into a specialty? Trauma, family systems, perinatal mental health, or something else? Getting certified can be a powerful way to boost both your confidence and your income.

3. Clinical Skills

Choose one skill you want to sharpen, not because you should, but because you’re genuinely curious. For me, that’s family estrangement right now. Pick what excites you.

4. Supervision or Mentorship

Do you want to start supervising, or find a mentor for yourself? These relationships can reignite your passion for the work and keep you grounded.

Step 3: Make It Doable

Here’s how to turn goals into action:

• Make it tangible: Be specific. Not “get better at trauma,” but “Complete one trauma-focused CEU by March.”

• Block out time: Reserve 45–60 minutes a month in your calendar for continuing education or reading.

• Pick one focus per quarter: Don’t try to grow in five areas at once. Keep it simple and intentional.

• Find an accountability partner: Check in with a colleague each month. It makes a difference!

Step 4: Use the Right Tools

You don’t have to hustle harder - you just need better tools.

Tired of spending hours writing notes?

Try Berries, the AI-powered scribe for therapists. It listens to your sessions and writes your notes for you—secure, EMR-ready, and built just for mental health pros.
I love that it even helps with treatment plans and diagnosis suggestions. And it saves so much time. Use code THERAPYSHOW50 to get $50 off your first month.

Want to create your own CE course in 2026?

I built a free tool just for that! It’s called the CE Course Builder for Mental Health Clinicians.
It guides you through everything: choosing a topic, writing NBCC or APA-aligned objectives, launching, marketing, and more.

Try the CE Course Builder here (free)!

Your Quick Win Challenge

Before you go, I’ve got a simple challenge for you: Pick one Podcourse from my catalog and schedule time to listen this week.

I had a therapist tell me she loved being able to knock out a continuing education while walking and honestly, that’s the whole point. Learning shouldn’t feel like a chore.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a direction - and the willingness to take one step at a time.

So reflect on what worked, pick one or two areas of growth, use tools that support your energy, and keep showing up. I’m cheering you on in 2026.